Access to airport lounges is usually only for the wealthy, so it’s imperative that these special waiting areas be as luxurious and as comfortable as possible. People who wait for their flights in these lounges are always treated like VIPs and they enjoy many privileges like meeting rooms, wireless Internet, phones, faxes, free drinks and snacks. All these of course, in a stylish and tastefully appointed environment. See here some of the best airport lounges you can find out there.
1. Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal
Location: Frankfurt am Main, separate building by Terminal 1
At the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, personal assistants help speed the check-in and security protocol. A Mercedes-Benz or a Porsche is there to take passengers around the airport, but passengers can also receive complimentary valet parking or rental-car return. A luxe ambiance welcomes every person with relax chairs, daybeds, a bar with 100 single malts, à la carte dining, a cigar lounge and a spa.
2. Qantas’ First Lounge
Location: Sydney, International Terminal
Created by Marc Newson, the same Australian designer who made Qantas’ A380 airplane fleet, this luxury lounge is only dedicated to first class passengers. It boasts an open-kitchen restaurant with 48 seats (chef Neil Perry) , an entertainment area with movies and PlayStations, a Payot Paris day spa, conference facilities and Wi-Fi. Carrara marble and plush furniture from Poltrona Frau Furniture create a luxurious environment, together with a 30-meter (98-foot) wall decorated with 8,400 plants to look like a vertical tropical garden. And to top it all off, the lounge also affords sweeping views of Sydney.
3. British Airways’ Concorde Room
Location: London Heathrow, Terminal 5A
Very exclusive, the Concorde Room can only be accessed by invitation or with a Concorde Room Card, only available to Gold Executive Club members with 5,000 Tier Points. Floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, herringbone and velvet give a classy look to the lounge. The long list of amenities and privileges include individual shower suites, free treatments at Elemis Travel Spa, free drinks and meals for night flight passengers (so that when they fly, passengers won’t be bothered by the food and beverages cart during the night, when they sleep).
4. Qatar Airways’ Premium Arrivals Lounge
Location: Doha, Doha International, Arrivals Terminal
This haven of luxury only opened last December, after Doha International developed a $90 million premium terminal. High-end amenities and a lush ambience make any passenger’s wait here a real pleasure. Twenty-four hour breakfast is available for intercontinental-flight passengers, but also all-day gourmet dining for everybody else. If the jet lag makes you feel weary and you need to get some rest before your next flight, you can do that in one of the five available bedrooms. If relaxation is what need, then you should try the Jacuzzis. Either way, you will love the time spent at the Arrivals Terminal Lounge.
5. Cathay Pacific’s The Wing
Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong International, South Course, Levels 6 and 7
With views of the runway, this luxurious lounge spans over two floors and a total of 3,994 square meters (42,991 square feet). There is a Japanese Noodle Bar, a 24-meter (78-foot) Long Bar that serves hot and cold buffet items and four restaurants, of which Haven is dedicated only to first class passengers. The list of amenities continues with a spa, 24 shower suites with soaking tubs, numerous comfortable chairs and daybeds and 26 IT workstations. The lounge will be completely renovated by next year.
6. Etihad’s Diamond First Class Lounge
Location: Abu Dhabi
The most remarkable feature of this exclusive lounge is its dedicated nursery with nannies ready to take care of your children 24/7, numerous toys and books and even special menus for kids. But adults and parent too can have a wonderful time at Diamond First Class Lounge. Fifteen-minute treatments at a Six Senses Spa, fine drinks at the champagne bar, delicious meals at a gourmet restaurant, all these are meant to turn your waiting into a pleasurable experience. There is also a library, a cigar and cognac lounge and a business center with Wi-Fi in the lounge.
7. Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris First Class Lounge
Location: Singapore, Singapore Changi, Terminal 2
The 2,787-square-meter (approx. 30,000 square-foot) lounge boasts everything a high-end traveler might need. From massage chairs for relaxation to complimentary razors and toothbrushes for freshening up, the SilverKris First Class Lounge has it all. Other amenities include meeting rooms, showers, soundproof telephone booths for free calls to Singapore, “slumberettes” with low lighting for naps and a fully equipped business center. Oh, did we mention the tropical fish aquarium with its “special power” to relax its watchers?
8. Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse
Location: San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal
Here you can see a replica of the lush Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow’s Terminal 3. Not as impressive as the original, this luxury lounge is still worth mentioning on the list of most impressive airport lounges. It boasts floor-to-ceiling windows for sweeping views of the bay, local art, luxe furnishings, and attendants that take care of check-in for flights, which are very helpful for international passengers.
9. La Mamounia’s VIP Lounge
Location: Marrakesh, Menara Airport
Last fall, La Mamounia airport hotel unveiled their exclusive lounge, styled by Jacques Garcia, the same French designer who created the hotel’s opulent interiors. With hotel employees as staff member at the lounge, every new guest can easily find his or her way to a luxe room in the hotel, as soon as the plane arrives at the airport. A custom Olivia Giacobetti fragrance welcomes passengers in a unique atmosphere, as the air vents continuously freshen up the lounge with this special perfume. During their wait, guests receive snacks and beverages and have non-stop access to concierge and Wi-Fi.
10. American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge
Location: New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Concourse B, Terminal 8
You can enjoy this 650-square-meter (approx. 6,996-square-foot) lounge based on American Advantage membership levels. In other words, if you pay, you can stay. The lounge offers complimentary Wi-Fi, a staffed business center, free house wines, showers and even a children’s room. It may not be as impressive as the immense Asian airport lounges, but it’s nevertheless better than a normal waiting area.
